The Qv4k Upside-Down

[HomerBB]

A storm came through last night. Straight line winds were 65 MPH, and no telling what the gusts were. It was awesome!
Anyhow, the Qv4k came down. As the photos will show, the failure was not the antenna , but the section of fiberglass pole beneath it. Three hours after I got up I had the damaged yagi and Qv4k repaired and back in operation.

 

[Robb]

Replaced it with the same fiberglass type material?

65+ wind gusts; that is almost equivalent to a weak EF-0 'nader!

 

[Shockwave]

I would skip the insulator. This antenna does not benefit from being isolated from the mast.

 

[Marconi]

Homer I think SW is correct, and maybe it's even worse than, "...does not show a benefit."

My Eznec model for the Sigma4 shows the antenna's gain and pattern are much better with the conductive mast attached, and it does not indicated significant currents on the mast.

With the mast insulated, however, the Eznec pattern shifts upward with gain reduced >1 db and max gain elevated from 5 degrees up to the 35-40 degrees range.

 

[HomerBB]

Thanks for the advice. I went back without the insulator; metal-to-metal this time.

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

did you have a ground wire on the antenna homer ?
your Qv4k is apparently pretty strong since the FG gave out befor it did glad to see it wasn't damaged

be sure to let us know what (if any) differences you notice going from isolated to connected to mast/ground .

 

[hotrod]

love tho look of the v4k above the beam. wow that thing must be very high considering lenth of antenna alone.

 

[wavrider]

Homer good job on getting it back up and working, looks great.

 

[HomerBB]

I will tell you if it is noticeably different without the insulator.
The antenna alone is 31.5 feet in length. The bottom is at 34' up above ground. A total to tip of 65.5 feet. If it were higher mounted it would be up there, but space constraints will not let me have a longer tip-over mast. When it is laid over the Qv4k tip is 4" inside the fence.

Booty, the vertical mast of the Qv4k was bent pretty good 2/3 way up, but I was able to work it back straight.

 

[Marconi]

Homer, I don't think I see a rotator, how do you rotate your beam?

 

[HomerBB]

With a small rope. It is mounted on a 6" lazy susan bearing, and turns lightly enough my cat could pull it if I could get her in a harness.

 

[HomerBB]

Here we go again!

The weather is going nuts again.

 

[HomerBB]

The worst has gone by for now, and everything is still standing.
Score:

Storm 1 ------- Qv4k 1

 

[n0zna]

its a nice antenna,a upside down astroplane...cool...73s de JW

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

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